New BD cams - rumor?

Shelton Hatfield wrote:I talked to a BD rep at TEVA mountain games about these. They are called the predators, and apparently they're badass.

Odd that they'd reuse a name they had for a pack just a few years back...

backcountry.com/black-diamo…

The Predator hmm, wasn't that an Ice Cube jam way back in the day.

These would seem to overlap with the C3s. Are they making an overlapping line or will they discontinue the C3?

Speculation frenzy time.

Pt

caughtinside wrote:Neat take on the internal cam spring idea.

Looks quite similar to how the guy who did the 2 cam for the homemade cam competition ages ago did his springs (hollowed out the center of the lobe for a regular torsion spring, leaving thin supports on each side). Probably no connection; just noting the similarity. Might have a pic of it somewhere...

paintrain wrote:These would seem to overlap with the C3s. Are they making an overlapping line or will they discontinue the C3? Speculation frenzy time. Pt

I doubt they'll discontinue anything. I'm betting these will overlap the largest 3 C3's and the smallest 4 C4's. One of the main complaints about the smaller C4's is the head width, and this could help them address that in their lineup and help them compete against mastercams and aliens in those sizes. The article lists sizes .1, .2, .3, .4, .5, and .75. I'm interested in knowing if they do better than small mastercams in shallow horizontals - if moderately cammed, flexing the cable can make that little spring/coil on the cable push the trigger bar back, uncamming it and making it fall out.

If you look at the specs, based on the description in the article it will overlap directly with the C3 and C4. I don't argue that the 0.3 and 0.4 C4 are not the most desired pieces, but they already overlap with 0-2 C3s and somewhat with the 0.5 C4s.

"The Black Diamond Camalot X4 ("predator") comes in 6 different sizes (.1, .2, .3, .4, .5, .75)."

C4s in this range -
13.8-23.4 mm, 0.54-0.92 in (size 0.3)
15.5-26.7 mm, 0.61-1.05 in (size 0.4)
19.6-33.5 mm, 0.77-1.32 in (size 0.5)
23.9-41.2 mm, 0.94-1.62 in (size 0.75)

C3s in this range -
10.7-15.8 mm, 0.42-0.62 in (size 0) - 0.1 predator maybe?
12.0-18.8 mm, 0.47-0.74 in (size 1) - 0.2 predator maybe?
14.2-22.6 mm, 0.56-0.89 in (size 2) - overlaps pretty with existing C4 0.3

Back to my original premise - Replacing C4s and C3s? or overlapping and self-competing?

PT

Personally I rather see the #3.5 and #4.5 come back. Plus I really like the old #4. There is simply to big of a gap from #3 to new #4 and to new #5...........,.
I mean really, they are making tons that overlap in smaller sizes....... So please make us OW lovers happy too!!!!

paintrain wrote: Back to my original premise - Replacing C4s and C3s? or overlapping and self-competing? PT

With that name, they're just trying to get something to compete against the re-released aliens.
How's it "self-competing" if you still buy their brand?

Mia they are trying to teach you that OW is something that ou only do if you have to. Your whole rack should not have to be dedicated to it. :p just kidding I like my OW too but not in the grades or quantity you do. Your crazy.

Warren Kanders + China + climbing gear = bad idea. Look into his history with other life-saving devices...like bullet proof vests.

Well this certainly is interesting. I had just blindly speculated that BD has to be coming up with something new considering the latest flurry of activity with new/new-old cams coming out.

This does look like a relatively unique offering on the internal spring design. Interesting take on a cable housing feature that someone else has already noted has been used on bikes for years now! I am also with the others that speculate the price being pretty astronomical too. I'm sure we'll do what we can to get our hands on them, but the economy isn't really getting any easier for most of us, and it'll likely be a while after they come out that most of us will be able to afford these.

Wah wahhhh.

Bill Duncan wrote:Warren Kanders + China + climbing gear = bad idea. Look into his history with other life-saving devices...like bullet proof vests.

It's a good thing he's at the computer drawing up the models and testing them then...........

Matt N wrote: With that name, they're just trying to get something to compete against the re-released aliens. How's it "self-competing" if you still buy their brand?

I would likely go in and buy a single cam in one size vs 2 different cams of the same size. BD will have to maintain two product lines that overlap and retailers will be expected to stock both. There are a good number of manufacturers that make cams of this range and you will be stacking another in the display. If you put them next to the master cams - price tag will play a big role.

Though I think the name is funny. It still just looks like BDs version of the Mastercam.

PT

General thoughts: Not sure what the "stacked axle" tech is all about, nor really sure on which sizes there will be a double axle. The pic running around looks like single axle to me. Just have to wait and see

While yes, these will somewhat cannibalize their C3 sales (and may even totally replace them in the long run), that isn't a good enough reason by itself for BD not to produce them. If people are buying mastercams and new aliens over C3s en masse, then these would better round out BD's portfolio and give them a fighting chance in the small cam market. Competition is good.

Personally, I don't like the C3s very much. They aren't particularly stable in pods and they're stiff, thus tending to walk and making placement more difficult. I've also found that offsets trump super narrow head width, at least in thin granite. Offsets tend to seat better in vertical pods and other weird shapes, which describes a LOT of finger crack. In other words, I'd reach for an offset mastercam or alien any day above a c3 in the majority of my climbing.

One other aspect is the metal used. Aliens have that wonderful soft aluminum. Though they can get wrecked pretty easily, they do bite nicely. It doesn't sound like BD is going this route, as it is being described as very durable.

In short, what BD should do here if it really wants to compete is that it should have 1) noticeably larger range over competitors (maybe), 2) offsets offered (doubtful, at least at first), 3)head widths substantially thinner than mastercams, preferably thinner than aliens (probably for the first, maybe for the second), and 4) compete pricewise (really doubtful).

As it looks, I'd probably favor the predators over the C3s, but not over aliens or mastercams unless they achieve a lot of the above. Still a good move for BD, but nothing revolutionary is going on here.

Edit to add: it's possible that where it will really shine is in the LARGER sizes (.3-.75), where the double axle will give it the range of the C4s, but narrower head widths. However, it could also be subject to the floppiness problems that the larger mastercams had. Again though, their competition is mostly with their own existing products.

Just a small tangent question here. When new cams / gear come out, do alot of you guys run out and buy it, kinda like a new apple product?

Just kinda curious since there seems to be alot of excitement about these cams. I still am using my BD single stem micros, but haha i'm also broke so I'm sure that's a major influence on my buying decisions.

I doubt that these new cams will replace c3's. Think of it this way, instead of having a rack of c4's and c3's with doubles in Metolius/Fixe/Totem/Wild Country for the small sizes(to cover gaps, yadda yadda yadda), you could get a set of Black Diamond cams that compliment your c3's. Not only will the sizes overlap, one will be stiff, one will be flexible. One will have three lobes, one will have four.

Next step, another set of cams that compliment c4's. Makes a lot of sense to me. One company, one giant and diverse rack. Especially with how many BD fanboys there are out there.

Scott McMahon wrote:Just a small tangent question here. When new cams / gear come out, do alot of you guys run out and buy it, kinda like a new apple product? Just kinda curious since there seems to be alot of excitement about these cams. I still am using my BD single stem micros, but haha i'm also broke so I'm sure that's a major influence on my buying decisions.

When Helium Friends came out, I went and bought a full set of Tech Friends for wicked cheap. I'm hoping when these come out c3's take a temporary dip in prices. Wishful thinking, I know, but who doesn't love a new cam?

Josh Olson wrote: When Helium Friends came out, I went and bought a full set of Tech Friends for wicked cheap. I'm hoping when these come out c3's take a temporary dip in prices. Wishful thinking, I know, but who doesn't love a new cam?

haha didn't even think of that. Nice way to score a new rack!

The Dread Pirate Killis wrote: I keep hearing about Wild Country banging out some newly designed big ones, supposedly in the 9" range, but haven't seen any on the shelves.

Backcountry has the #5/red (3.3" - 5.4") but not the #6/green (4.6" - 7.6")

backcountry.com/wild-countr…

If you need 9" (giggity) then you'll probably have to go with a Valley Giant or stick with Big Bro's.

I love my 3.5s....... The ultimate fist for me!!!